This might be more proof that the Piranhas are back, as the Twins scratched and clawed (or perhaps nipped) their way to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.
Ben Revere and Jamey Carroll started the offense right away with back-to-back singles to lead off the game. After a throwing error on a pickoff attempt by Rays starter Jeff Niemann, Ryan Doumit drove in Revere with an RBI groundout. However, Carroll was stranded at third as Chris Parmelee and Danny Valencia were unable to bring him home.
The Twins added two more runs in the third inning. Alexi Casilla led off with a single and after a stolen base, was bunted to 3rd base by Revere. However, to me it sure looked like Revere was attempting to bunt for a base hit by dumping the ball into the Bermuda Triangle between the pitcher, 1st baseman, and 2nd baseman. The Twins loaded the bases with Carroll and Parmelee walks before Danny Valencia hit an infield single to shortstop Sean Rodriguez, whose flip to second base was off-target and allowed two runs to score.
The Rays did add two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning off Jeff Gray, though to be fair to Gray, he probably would have escaped the inning unscathed if it wasn't for a dropped fly ball by Darin Mastroianni in left field that would have been the second out. The error allowed Stephen Vogt to score from 2nd base, and the hitter Elliot Johnson would later come around to score for the second run.
The Battle For Squatter's Rights, a.k.a. The Third Catcher Race (Players in order of winning, in my opinion)
J.R. Towles - 0 for 1 today, though his hustle in his at-bat turned a sure double play into a fielder's choice. He was then thrown out attempting to steal second base, but I think the coaching staff might be happy just to have another possible base stealing threat on the roster.
Drew Butera - Did not play
Today's Dark Horse, No one - The only other catcher that played today was Ryan Doumit, and since he's entrenched as the backup catcher, he is not eligible to be Today's Dark Horse in The Battle For Squatter's Rights.
Studs
Alexi Casilla (2 for 3, 1 R, 1 SB), Scott Baker (2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB), Glen Perkins (1 IP, 0 H, 2 K)
Duds
Joe Benson (0 for 4, 3 K), Brian Dinkelman, Steve Pearce (0 for 3 each), Jeff Gray (1 IP, 2 R, 2 H, 1 BB)